The benefits of tomato

Posted on May 26, 2014by Essential Med

Tomatoes! They’re sweet, juicy, and delicious. Everyone knows they are good for you, right? Does everyone know specifically why tomatoes are a healthful food? Let’s look at what makes the tomato an excellent healthy choice.

One serving of red, ripe, raw tomatoes is a good source of Vitamins A, C, K, folate and potassium. Tomatoes are naturally low in sodium, saturated fat, cholesterol, and calories. Tomatoes also provide thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, magnesium, phosphorus and copper, all of which are necessary for good health.

Tomatoes also have a relatively high water content, which makes them a filling food. In general eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, confers protection against high blood pressure, high cholesterol, strokes, and heart disease.

One tomato packs one powerful punch of nutrition, but there’s much more!

Tomatoes make your skin look great. Beta-carotene, also found in carrots and sweet potatoes, helps protect skin against sun damage. Tomatoes’ lycopene also makes skin less sensitive to UV light damage, a leading cause of fine lines and wrinkles.

Tomatoes build strong bones. The vitamin K and calcium in tomatoes are both very good for strengthening and repairing bones.

Lycopene also has been shown to improve bone mass, which is a great way to fight osteoporosis.

Tomatoes are a natural cancer fighter. Lycopene can reduce the risk of several cancers, including prostate, cervical, mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, and colon, rectal, prostate and ovarian cancer. Tomatoes’ antioxidants fight the free radicals which can cause cell damage.

Tomatoes can keep your blood sugar in balance. Tomatoes are a very good source of chromium, which helps to regulate blood sugar.

Tomatoes can improve your vision. The vitamin A that tomatoes provide can improve vision and help prevent night blindness.

Tomatoes will even make your hair look better. The vitamin A found in tomatoes works to make hair strong and shiny.

Tomatoes can help prevent kidney stones and gallstones.

Tomatoes are high in bioflavonoids and carotenoids, which are known anti-inflammatory agents.

Tomatoes can help you lose weight. If you are on a sensible diet and exercise plan, build lots of tomatoes into your everyday eating.

There are many ways to incorporate tomatoes into your daily diet, so have some fun with this delicious, juicy and very healthy fruit and bulk up on the many benefits that it contains.

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